Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 22, 2009 9:47 pm Hi, Can anyone provide the a good source and/or experience with building with steel frame as opposed to the treated pine framing that's available now. I am concerned about rust in the steel frame, and end sealing of the treated pine in a house frame. Any advice much appreciated. thanks Murlee Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 2Jun 23, 2009 1:04 am No experience here but i speced and had all builders quote on frame fully treated H2, this included the posistrut first floor bearers, flooring and roof trusses. It wasn't a big hit in cost and all the research I have done tells me it is the way to go.. I look forward to your final decision. Dan C Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 3Jun 23, 2009 8:04 am Have you been given a cost difference of the two options? Provided the steel isn't cut onsite, the steel shouldn't rust, and most steel manufacturers will give you either a 25 year, or BHP was 50 year guarantee... As for H2 pine, you could specify that cut ends must be treated onsite. There are products available, and some H2 treatments require this to maintain the guarantee... Other H2 treatments don't require this... Electrical Engineer... Don't hold that against me... And keen owner builder... Mainly the building part!! Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 4Jun 23, 2009 8:16 pm Hi guys, Thanks for the replies. As for cost, I haven't had any estimates yet I only know that electricians and plumbers hate the steel frames. I have seen treated pine cut and not sealed, low and behold the termites ate the middle out of the timber. I understand that treated pine is pressure treated which only goes a small depth into the timber and not through the whole thickness. My other concern is that I can imagine plumbers and electicians resealing wholes they bore into the frame to feed cabling and pipes through. Thanks again for the info. Murlee Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 5Jun 23, 2009 9:48 pm I specified the treated stuff for all framing, posi's, trusses and flooring but don't have the actual figures in front of me. Brain isn't working too good right now but for some reason its telling me to add about 15-20% the treated timber compared to non treated. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 6Jun 23, 2009 9:49 pm Quote: As for cost, I haven't had any estimates yet I only know that electricians and plumbers hate the steel frames Why?? Lots of steel frame homes here,we have one too, probably out number timber frames in new homes 2:1 and never heard that Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 7Jun 23, 2009 10:01 pm Helyn Quote: As for cost, I haven't had any estimates yet I only know that electricians and plumbers hate the steel frames Why?? Lots of steel frame homes here,we have one too, probably out number timber frames in new homes 2:1 and never heard that I dunno about plumbers either Helyn but l do know sparkies don't like working with steel frames. Something to do with the holes in them, they have to grommit? each hole that the cables run through to stop the sharp edge of the holes cutting them. Also too, is that they have to use and run more cable as they can't drill holes in the frame to suit themselves. So yeah it seems to them it is a bit more fiddly and time-consuming working on a steel frame. Tough luck l say! Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 8Jun 23, 2009 11:22 pm Have a look at some steel frames to see how they work, they have holes pre drilled with rolled edges so no problem for running cables etc. In our build the plumbers cut their own holes where needed (sealed with silicone). Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 9Jun 23, 2009 11:38 pm sdabel Have a look at some steel frames to see how they work, they have holes pre drilled with rolled edges so no problem for running cables etc. In our build the plumbers cut their own holes where needed (sealed with silicone). Our holes are pre-drilled but the edges aren't rolled...much to my BIL's (our sparky) dismay. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 10Jun 24, 2009 12:28 am As others have said most people seem to prefer working with timber over steel. H2 will add about 9-15% additional cost to the job and comes with a 25 year guarantee. As far as end sealing goes if you are south of the Tropic of Capricorn you don't need to end seal, this is because of the type of termites they have up there. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 11Jun 24, 2009 2:05 am Hi all Is the H2 a termite treated product. I’ve seen it in green but not blue. If it was me and the reasion for this was termite protection I would got steel frame. Im only guessing that what its treated for. Regards KW…………. “It's just as unpleasant to get more than you bargain for as to get less” George Bernard Shaw. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 12Jun 24, 2009 9:39 am King willy Hi all Is the H2 a termite treated product. I’ve seen it in green but not blue. If it was me and the reasion for this was termite protection I would got steel frame. Im only guessing that what its treated for. Regards KW…………. There Blue until you unpack them and then the sunlight gets to them and they start to go green. Different suppliers use different color dyes, the dyes will completely fade over time. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 13Jun 25, 2009 12:20 am Thanks Nimad If I was in a high termite area and was going for a total protection of my home. I would go for steel frame. I’m pretty sure they don’t eat steel. Is the chemical a deterrent (repellent or a poison)? If you can get want you want in steel why not and have the peace of mind. KW…….. “It's just as unpleasant to get more than you bargain for as to get less” George Bernard Shaw. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 14Jun 25, 2009 7:47 pm nomad There Blue until you unpack them and then the sunlight gets to them and they start to go green. Different suppliers use different color dyes, the dyes will completely fade over time. Actually there is blue, there is red, there is green... It all depends on what treatment is used... North of the Tropic of Capricorn you must use a different termite treatment because of the different species... The colour should never fade out... IT will fade slightly when exposed initally,but once the frame is up, roof on, and bricked up, you won't see any change... Electrical Engineer... Don't hold that against me... And keen owner builder... Mainly the building part!! Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 15Jun 25, 2009 8:52 pm I would go with timber over steel anyday. Steel is noisy at night, you can hear it expand and contract. Its difficult to fix out, you have to screw everything rather than nail. Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 16Jun 25, 2009 9:02 pm Quote: Steel is noisy at night, you can hear it expand and contract. We've lived in ours for 8 months now, cant say Ive noticed noises at night, no different to my old timber framed house. Or perhaps Im just getting deaf in my old age Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 17Jun 25, 2009 9:49 pm waylow I would go with timber over steel anyday. Steel is noisy at night, you can hear it expand and contract. Its difficult to fix out, you have to screw everything rather than nail. That's the old style steel frames.. Riveted, not welded... As for screwing... Well, most builder will be using a standard nail gun for fixing! Screwing steel frames take too long, and filling the holes take much longer than filling a nail hole! Steel is harder to make slight changes onsite. You have to be exact with the slab dimensions! But it means frames a square and true! Timber is a lot more forgiving in that respect, but with forgiveness comes some flaws... Electrical Engineer... Don't hold that against me... And keen owner builder... Mainly the building part!! Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 19Jun 26, 2009 11:11 am Our SS told us that he has worked with both steel and timber. He too commented on the noise factor with contraction and also reckoned steel squeaked in the wind. At the end of the day thought it could just be down to builders personal preference. no coffee? no work!!! The Big M - PCI complete bring on handover Re: steel frame versus Blue Pine (H2 treated frame) 20Jun 26, 2009 2:18 pm murlee Hi, Can anyone provide the a good source and/or experience with building with steel frame as opposed to the treated pine framing that's available now. I am concerned about rust in the steel frame, and end sealing of the treated pine in a house frame. Any advice much appreciated. thanks Murlee Have a look at my posts in the owner builder section, or our blog, we're putting up a steel frame right now. None of the tradies have disliked working on it so far, the plumber and sparky say that they prefer having pre-drilled holes. Plus steel's biggest benefit is that it is 100% STRAIGHT - no packing, sanding etc. And it spans bigger gaps. JB I’m just in the process of replacing 2 stud walls that have been severely damaged by termites and am planning to use h2 blue pine. I just wanted to if anyone can advise… 0 52842 Hi I am wanting some opinions about the build of a steel shed I am going to get one about 4.5 x 2.5 m steel shed and the height will be about 2.3-2.4m high The one I am… 0 14386 Looks amazing, however I think for double story application I think noise matters , we have a patio which makes ticking noises all the time, some times they are as… 6 3683 |